Theftproof merchandise display



Nov. 18, 1969 L. J. CROSSLEN 3,478,893

THEFTPROOF MERCHANDISE DI SPLAY Filed Nov. 2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jzw 8. 1969 L. J. cRossLEN V 3,478,893

THEFTPROOF MERCHANDISE DISPLAY Filed Nov. 2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 clrzwezztar 0% (70557572 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 211-165 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display device having a plurality of merchandise receiving and display spindles which \are simultaneously locked against displacement by a common locking mechanism to prevent unauthorized removal of the merchandise and which may be readily released for removal of the displayed merchandise by authorized personnel.

Background In the promotion and display of merchandise in retail stores and the like, it is generally acknowledged that maximum sales appeal is generated by displaying the merchandise in a manner whereby it may be handled by the potential customer.

However, Whenever merchandise is displayed for free handling by the general public either on counters or on special display racks or the like, the problem of pilferage or thievery is present, and especially with present help shortages, it is extremely difficult to control the loss of merchandise displayed in this manner.

It is also highly desirable to display the merchandise in an attractive manner which affords the potential customer as much room as possible while permitting expansion and while still conserving valuable floor and counter space for the display of other merchandise and for clerical work and check-out.

In addition, it adds greatly to the sales appeal and product promotion to utilize signals and placards of an informative nature in direct conjunction with the merchandise in order to direct the interested customers to the display area while effectively advertising the product and its origin.

However, while many different types of merchandise displays have heretofore been proposed, none of the prior available display devices have satisfactorily met all of the foregoing requirements with regard to attractiveness, space conservation, informative advertising, customer comfort, individuality of display, ready expansion, and relative safety from pilferage and thievery.

Summary It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a merchandise display which obviates the disadvantages attendant prior available display devices and which does effectively meet all of the aforesaid requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extremely attractive unitary display device which may either be supported on a floor pedestal or on a counter or other surface and which may be readily expanded to meet display requirements without impairing its effectiveness.

A further object of this invention is to provide a merchandise display which affords the customer an opportunity to carefully examine a large number of individual articles of merchandise at a sirlgle station without need for close clerical supervision and without any appreciable danger of unauthorized removal and/or loss of the displayed merchandise.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a 3,478,893 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 merchandise display which comprises, means for supporting one or more merchandise display spindles in a manner whereby the spindles are selectively displaceable to permit reception and removal of articles of merchandise to be displayed, means for releasably resisting displacement of each spindle, and means operable to simultaneously restrict movement of all of the spindles and thereby prevent displacement thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

The drawings A clear conception of the features constituting the present invention, and of the mode of constructing and utilizing a typical merchandise display embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical pedestalsupported three-tier carousel type merchandise display embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the display with the promotional sign removed from the upper end thereof and with the display spindles unlocked;

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2 and again showing the display unlocked;

FIGURE 4 is a similar section to that of FIGURE 3 but with the display spindles locked against displacement;

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary section through a merchandise display spindle portion of the device showing the spindle in its locked or tamperproof position as in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a section similar to FIGURE 5 but with the spindle being shown in displaced position for removal of the merchandise therefrom by means of broken lines.

Detailed description While the invention has been shown and described herein as being embodied in a carousel-type merchandising display consisting of either two or three tiers with each tier being independently rotatable, it is to be understood that the novel features are applicable to displays of different types for a variety of mechandise, and it is not intended or desired to unnecessarily limit the invention by reason of the specific embodiments shown. It is also contemplated that the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure shall be given to descriptive terminology as used herein.

Referring to the drawings, the merchandise display shown therein as embodying the invention comprises generally one or more tiers of merchandise display racks 10 carried by a pedestal-type stand 12. The stand 12 may be of any desired height with the feet 14 thereof adapted for placement either on the floor or the counter of a retail store.

Each of the display racks 10 consists of a pair of spaced support members shown as being in the form of discs 16 joined by an annular spacer or wall 18. Each pair of support members 16 is provided with an annular series of aligned spindle receiving apertures 20, 21, and a merchandise display spindle 22 is loosely receivable in each pair of the aligned apertures for axial movement to permit displacement in order to remove or apply an article 24 of merchandise. Each of the spindles 22 is resiliently urged axially toward one end thereof to normally confine the spindle in its receiving apertures 20, 21, and for this purpose, a helical compression spring 26 may be employed, the spring reacting against the lower one of the discs 16 and an annular abutment 28 or the like. In addition, the lower end of each spindle 22 is provided with an enlarged head 30 which serves to limit upward movement of the spindle and thereby retain the spring 26 under compression. Thus, when axial downward movement of the spindles 22 is not obstructed or limited, each spindle may be moved axially downwardly against the action of its respective spring 26 to thereby compress the spring and permit lateral displacement of the upper end of the spindle 22 from its receiving aperture 21, and to guide the upper end of the spindle during such displacement, the upper support member 16 may preferably be formed with outwardly extending and downwardly open grooves 32 extending from each aperture 21. In addition, each of the springs 26 may be provided with a lower washer seat 34 if desired, particularly since the aperture 20' must be sufiiciently large to permit the spindle 22 to be displaced as illustrated by broken lines in FIGURE 6.

. The support members or discs 16 are rotatably mounted on an upright shaft 36, and one or more tiers of these support members may be provided as desired. A base 38 is mounted at the upper end of the pedestal 12, and each of the tiers of support members 16 are mounted above the base 38 with a helical spring 40 compressed between the bottom support member of the lowermost tier 10 and the base 38 and between the adjacent support members of each adjoining tier 10. These springs 40 serve to resiliently support the respective tiers 10 while spacing the support members 16 thereof a suflicient distance from the base 38 and/or adjacent support member to permit the spindles 22 to be moved axially a sufilcient distance to permit displacement thereof as hereinabove described.

However, the present invention provides means operable to move the tiers 10 toward the base 38 and toward each other so that the base 38 provides a stop restricting axial downward movement of the spindle 22 to an extent whereby displacement of the upper end of the spindle from the aperture 21 is prevented, Similarly, the upper support member 16 of each tier 10 acts as a stop for the spindle 22 of the next adjacent upper tier. The mechanism for accomplishing this simultaneous locking of all of the spindles of all of the tiers is best illustrated in FIG- UR-ES 3 and 4 and comprises a cam lever 42 pivoted to the upper end of the shaft 36 as at 44 so that the cam surface 46 acting against the top support member 16 of the uppermost tier 10 as through bearing washers 48 moves all of the tiers 10 downwardly and compresses the springs 40. Thus, when the cam lever 42 is in the position shown in FIGURE 3, the tiers 10 are retained a suflicient distance apart by the springs 40 to permit displacement of the spindles 22 as hereinabove described, but with the cam lever 42 rotated to the position shown in FIGURE 4, the cam surface 46 acts to compress the springs 40 and move all of the tiers 10 axially a sufficient distance to prevent sufficient axial movement of the spindles 22 for displacement of the same. The articles of merchandise 24 displayed on the spindles 22 accordingly cannot be removed when the cam lever is in the position shown in FIGURE 4.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of an advertising or promotional sign 50 in conjunction with the display. This display sign 50 is supported by a leg 52 or the like which has its lowermost portion 54 bent upon itself so as to be capable of insertion into the upper end of the tubular shaft 36. The pivot pin 44 for the cam lever 42 may then be inserted between the depending portion of leg 52 and the upwardly extending portion 54 to firmly retain the sign 50 in position to permit the lever 42 to be operated with sign 50 secured to the display as described. The gripping portion 56 of the lever 42 may be cut away to provide a medial slot which permits movement of the lever to and from the position shown in FIGURE 4.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed that the present invention contemplates the provision of a merchandising display device which provides for ready application and/or removal of merchandise by authorized personnel familiar with the locking action afforded by the cam lever 42, but which also affords protection against tampering and/or pilferage by unauthorized personnel not familiar with the locking action. The improved display aifords a large degree of flexibility by permitting any desired number of tiers of display supports to be utilized, and the lever 42 serves as a common tamperproof locking mechanism for all of the display supports and spindles. In other words, the improved locking mechanism serves to simultaneously release and/or lock all of the spindles of all of the tiers. Also, the locking lever 42 is so designed as to permit advertising or promotional material to be displayed above the display device, and the tiers 10 may be individually rotated about the common support shaft 36. If it is desired to provide means for positively locking the cam lever 42 in the position shown in FIGURE 4, it is only necessary to provide a lock receiving aperture 58 in the shank of the lever near the edge thereof remote from the yoke portion 56. A lock inserted through the opening 58 would then cooperate with the yoke portion 56 of the lever 42 to retain the same in its upright position as shown in FIG- URE 4 wherein the leg 52 of the advertising sign extends between the lock and the yoke.

I claim:

1. A merchandise display comprising, a pair of spaced support members having aligned spindle receiving apertures, a merchandise display spindle receivcable in the apertures of said support members, said spindle being axially movable for displacement of one end thereof from its receiving aperture, means for resiliently urging said spindle axially toward its said one end to normally confine the same in its receiving aperture, a stop adjacent the other end of said spindle, means for resiliently urging said support members away from said stop to permit axial movement of said spindle and removal of its said one end from its receiving aperture, and means operable to move said support members toward said stop to restrict axial movement of said spindle and thereby prevent removal of its said one end from its receiving aperture.

2. A merchandise display according to claim 1, wherein the support members have a plurality of aligned apertures for receiving a plurality of spindles, each of which is independently axially movable for selective displacement thereof, and the means operable to move the support members toward the stop restricts axial movement of all of the spindles simultaneously.

3. A merchandise display according to claim 2, wherein the support members are slidably mounted on a shaft, and the means operable to move the support members toward the stop is a cam lever pivoted to the shaft and cooperable with the support members.

4. A merchandise display according to claim 2, where in each spindle is provided with a spring maintained under compression and forming the means for resiliently urging the respective spindles toward their confined positions. 7

5. A merchandise display according to claim 3, wherein the means for resiliently urging the support members away from the stop is a spring embracing the shaft and compressed between the support members and the stop.

6. A merchandise display according to claim 3, wherein the support members are also rotatable about the shaft.

7. A merchandise display according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of spaced support members are provided with each pair of said support members constituting a tie-r and being formed with a plurality of aligned apertures for receiving a plurality of spindles, each of which is independently axially movable for selective displacement thereof, and the means operable to move the support members toward the stop restricts axial movement of all of the spindles simultaneously.

8. A merchandise display according to claim 7, wherein the tiers are slidably mounted on a common shaft, and the means operable to move the tiers toward the stop and toward each other is a cam lever pivoted to the shaft and cooperable with the uppermost tier.

'9. A merchandise display according to claim 8, wherein the means for resiliently urging the tiers away from the stop and away from each other comprise springs embracing the shaft and compressed between adjacent tiers and the stop.

10. A merchandise display according to claim 8, wherein each of the tiers is independently rotatable about the common shaft.

11. A merchandise display comprising, a pair of spaced support members having pairs of aligned spindle receiving apertures, merchandise display spindles receivable in References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,049,886 1/1913 Manson 40-72 1,813,442 7/ 1931 Dobrowsky 40-72 1,930,843 10/ 1933 Pettis 40-72 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 40-72; 21l169 

